“Family Stories” by Dorianne Laux (2000)

“Family Stories” appears in Laux’s third collection of poetry, Smoke (2000), and compares her tumultuous home life to that of her boyfriend. “Family Stories” speaks candidly about generational trauma, anger, and the poor communication dynamics that often go undiscussed within the fabric of a family. Laux explores familial taboos with the same courage and curiosity present within “Break,” refusing to perform the perfect family act within her writing.

“Family Stories” parallels “Break” in both content and form, written as one continuous stanza with no breaks. The circularity of the primary image, in this case, a lit birthday cake flying out of a third story window, anchors the poem in the same way that the image of the puzzle does in “Break,” connecting the beginning to ending of the piece in dynamic and startling ways. “Family Stories” serves as an excellent example of Laux’s commitment to honesty throughout her career.

“Heart” by Dorianne Laux (2000)

Laux’s poem, “Heart,” was also published in Smoke (2000) alongside “Family Stories,” combining concrete and abstract language to discuss the implications of feeling and falling in love. “Heart” combines a variety of long and short lines like “Break” into one extended stanza, using contradiction to expose the human heart as a fickle thing.